Conducted a site tour with Consumers Energy and MEDC on wood manufacturer.

More than 10 RFPs and RFIs submitted to site selectors.

Improve all aspects of the support network for Bay County entrepreneurs.

2016

Biz Grid creation through RoadMap to the Future Initiative.

CMU-RC Bay City opened.

Establish an Opportunity Fund to be able to incentivize economic development projects in the County.

2016

Applied for final round to administer United States Department of Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund.

Continued growing partnership with Bay County Growth Alliance.

Periodically during the next three years, the Bay Future, Inc. Board of Directors will provide oversight and review this Strategic Action Plan to monitor the implementation progress and incorporate economic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and trends into the organization’s brand, goals and position.

Conduct over 100 company visitations/interviews per year with local employers to determine expansion opportunities and roadblocks to growth. Track visitations on BayFuture.com

2016

Conducted ~150 company visitations/interviews.

Serve as the liaison between existing employers and public officials to resolve any barriers to growth and/or the creation of jobs.

2016

Worked closely with 5 municipalities to resolve issues directly related to development and zoning.

Maintain a confidential database to work with individual companies tracking business trends and intelligence utilizing “synchronist” CBM software.

2016

Salesforce CRM software is in place. Working closely along with MEDC to keep this database updated and robust on an ongoing basis.

Provide economic data modeling reports for businesses.

2016

Provided above reports to multiple organizations and on three (3) specific projects. Most notably, worked with Michigan Sugar on producing reports showing economic impact of sugar beet production in Bay City, Bay County, and the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Collaborate with CMU-RC to establish a satellite Research Center for Entrepreneurs to incubate business ideas.

2016

CMU-RC project was announced in 2016 and they moved in to their Uptown Bay City location on March 1st 2017.

Increase support for entrepreneurs by providing incentives, remove barriers, and create an atmosphere that nurtures entrepreneurs by developing a one-stop support system.

2016

BFI is Co-Chair of the Diverse and Robust Economy Roadmap to the Future Sub Committee which created a Biz Grid in 2016 and will fully integrate that piece Region wide in 2017.

Collaborate with local colleges and K-12 educators to expose elementary and middle and high school students to career paths available within the area, which is critical to our regional economic success.

2016: Presented to and working closely with the BACC Business and Education Partnership.

Coordinate tours of local industries for K-12 educators.

2016: Identifying local companies interested in facilitating this possibility.

Continue to collaborate with Michigan Works!, which eliminates duplication and enhances the performance of regional workforce partners and programs;